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Community Comes Out In Support Of Coach

By Staff | Sep 21, 2011

The Wetzel County Board of Education was met unexpectedly with a large crowd of students and community members at their regular meeting held at Long Drain School on Monday night. It turned out the band of attendants were gathered in support of Hundred Basketball Coach Mike Ray, who allegedly faces accusations of misconduct. Board President Mike Blair prefaced those present saying the board had no briefing on the activities going on and could only say an investigation is underway. Blair then welcomed those who had signed up to address the board but cautioned them to not involve any students, underage persons, and to hold off making accusations of any kind. The board’s first guests were Abby Tennant and Natalie Balwanz. Tennant bluntly asked the board, “Has there been anything done yet against our coach?” The board replied they didn’t know anything at this time. However Tennant retorted she believed Ray was told not to go into the locker rooms of the school and her concern there was that at this time there is no one to supervise weight-lifting to the student athletes. To this Superintendent Diane Watt stated that was a personnel matter and the board was not able to speak to the issue right now. Tennant then went on to read a petition which had over 200 community members’ signatures. She shared with the board that Ray has coached for over 40 years, investing time, money, and most of his life. At the close of her remarks, Tennant stated, “You’re supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. Please bring our coach back.” Following her statement the crowd stood from the bleachers in thunderous applause. Second to speak was Sharon Bartlett, who read a letter from her son, Brian Bartlett, who was unable to attend the meeting as he is a Hundred town councilman and that body was also having a meeting at that time. In the letter Brian Bartlett expressed how honored he was to be able to work alongside Coach Ray as the Assistant Boys’ Basketball Coach, only to learn that dream may not come true after the allegations made against Ray. “For his career to end like this would be a tragedy,” Sharon Bartlett read from her son’s letter. Next to voice her opinion was Janie Stewart, who stated Coach Ray has lived his life for basketball. “This has been the worst week of that man’s life,” she said. “He has dedicated 40-some years to the athletic programs. He’s done more than basketball. More than anything he has shown our kids a better way of life. Many of them sitting here today will tell you they are better because of Mike Ray.” Following Stewart’s profound statement, a group of students stood from their seats and united, cheering: “We want our coach back!” Waneta Yoho and Joe Seckman were also on tap to address the board, however both chose to hold their remarks and questions to the board until the next regular meeting. In other matters the board discussed a previously tabled matter regarding the approval of the first reading of Wetzel County Policy GCAOF-R: Evening Events Coordinator. Generally speaking, the purpose of the policy is to allow school principals to make the choice whether or not to hire a qualified evening events coordinator by season or school year to aid in attending and supervising all extracurricular events. The evening events coordinator would not take the place of the principal’s duties in that regard, but rather designates a trained individual who can supervise when the principal is unable to attend an event. However, the policy requires the coordinator’s pay come from the school’s athletic funds–a financial requirement many schools in the county are unlikely to meet. “What is being requested is if you (the board) are in agreement to have each principal the opportunity to hire a coordinator if they had the money and the need,” Superintendent Watt stated. Board Member Willie Baker expressed his opposition to the policy as written, saying he felt it was unfair not every school have the same opportunity to hire a coordinator simply because their financial standing is different from another school’s. To this, Watt replied that through growing up with siblings, “Fair isn’t always equal. You have to take that into consideration.” President Blair then asked what options there were for the board at this stage. Watt replied the board needed to approve or deny the policy. She added denying the policy simply meant going back to the drawing board and coming up with another option. Baker stated he was not opposed to the idea, but just wanted it to be fair to all schools. Blair recused himself from the vote wherein the motion to approve the first reading of the policy was made and accepted. In addition to this policy reading, the board also approved the first reading of Wetzel County Policy: EDC, Authorized Use of School Property and School Owned Equipment and Material, and the second reading of Wetzel County Policy: GDE, Employment Service Personnel Substitutes. Also during the meeting on Monday, the board heard annual reports of the Local School Improvement Councils of Long Drain School and Hundred High School. Those reports will be printed in upcoming editions of the Wetzel Chronicle. Lastly, the board established the upcoming meeting schedule. The board will meet at 7 p.m. on the following dates and locations unless otherwise noted: Oct. 3, regular meeting at Paden City Elementary School; Oct. 11, special meeting/ work session at the county office at 6 p.m.; Oct. 17, regularly meeting at Short Line School; Nov. 7, regular meeting at New Martinsville School; and Nov. 21, regular meeting at the county office.

Community Comes Out In Support Of Coach

By Staff | Sep 21, 2011

The Wetzel County Board of Education was met unexpectedly with a large crowd of students and community members at their regular meeting held at Long Drain School on Monday night. It turned out the band of attendants were gathered in support of Hundred Basketball Coach Mike Ray, who allegedly faces accusations of misconduct.

Board President Mike Blair prefaced those present saying the board had no briefing on the activities going on and could only say an investigation is underway. Blair then welcomed those who had signed up to address the board but cautioned them to not involve any students, underage persons, and to hold off making accusations of any kind.

The board’s first guests were Abby Tennant and Natalie Balwanz. Tennant bluntly asked the board, “Has there been anything done yet against our coach?” The board replied they didn’t know anything at this time. However Tennant retorted she believed Ray was told not to go into the locker rooms of the school and her concern there was that at this time there is no one to supervise weight-lifting to the student athletes. To this Superintendent Diane Watt stated that was a personnel matter and the board was not able to speak to the issue right now.

Tennant then went on to read a petition which had over 200 community members’ signatures. She shared with the board that Ray has coached for over 40 years, investing time, money, and most of his life. At the close of her remarks, Tennant stated, “You’re supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. Please bring our coach back.” Following her statement the crowd stood from the bleachers in thunderous applause.

Second to speak was Sharon Bartlett, who read a letter from her son, Brian Bartlett, who was unable to attend the meeting as he is a Hundred town councilman and that body was also having a meeting at that time. In the letter Brian Bartlett expressed how honored he was to be able to work alongside Coach Ray as the Assistant Boys’ Basketball Coach, only to learn that dream may not come true after the allegations made against Ray. “For his career to end like this would be a tragedy,” Sharon Bartlett read from her son’s letter.

Next to voice her opinion was Janie Stewart, who stated Coach Ray has lived his life for basketball. “This has been the worst week of that man’s life,” she said. “He has dedicated 40-some years to the athletic programs. He’s done more than basketball. More than anything he has shown our kids a better way of life. Many of them sitting here today will tell you they are better because of Mike Ray.”

Following Stewart’s profound statement, a group of students stood from their seats and united, cheering: “We want our coach back!”

Waneta Yoho and Joe Seckman were also on tap to address the board, however both chose to hold their remarks and questions to the board until the next regular meeting.

In other matters the board discussed a previously tabled matter regarding the approval of the first reading of Wetzel County Policy GCAOF-R: Evening Events Coordinator. Generally speaking, the purpose of the policy is to allow school principals to make the choice whether or not to hire a qualified evening events coordinator by season or school year to aid in attending and supervising all extracurricular events. The evening events coordinator would not take the place of the principal’s duties in that regard, but rather designates a trained individual who can supervise when the principal is unable to attend an event.

However, the policy requires the coordinator’s pay come from the school’s athletic funds-a financial requirement many schools in the county are unlikely to meet.

“What is being requested is if you (the board) are in agreement to have each principal the opportunity to hire a coordinator if they had the money and the need,” Superintendent Watt stated. Board Member Willie Baker expressed his opposition to the policy as written, saying he felt it was unfair not every school have the same opportunity to hire a coordinator simply because their financial standing is different from another school’s.

To this, Watt replied that through growing up with siblings, “Fair isn’t always equal. You have to take that into consideration.”

President Blair then asked what options there were for the board at this stage. Watt replied the board needed to approve or deny the policy. She added denying the policy simply meant going back to the drawing board and coming up with another option. Baker stated he was not opposed to the idea, but just wanted it to be fair to all schools. Blair recused himself from the vote wherein the motion to approve the first reading of the policy was made and accepted.

In addition to this policy reading, the board also approved the first reading of Wetzel County Policy: EDC, Authorized Use of School Property and School Owned Equipment and Material, and the second reading of Wetzel County Policy: GDE, Employment Service Personnel Substitutes.

Also during the meeting on Monday, the board heard annual reports of the Local School Improvement Councils of Long Drain School and Hundred High School. Those reports will be printed in upcoming editions of the Wetzel Chronicle.

Lastly, the board established the upcoming meeting schedule. The board will meet at 7 p.m. on the following dates and locations unless otherwise noted: Oct. 3, regular meeting at Paden City Elementary School; Oct. 11, special meeting/ work session at the county office at 6 p.m.; Oct. 17, regularly meeting at Short Line School; Nov. 7, regular meeting at New Martinsville School; and Nov. 21, regular meeting at the county office.